PAGE 9
Peter Bell The Third
by
7.
At night he oft would start and wake
Like a lover, and began
In a wild measure songs to make 405
On moor, and glen, and rocky lake,
And on the heart of man–
8.
And on the universal sky–
And the wide earth’s bosom green,–
And the sweet, strange mystery 410
Of what beyond these things may lie,
And yet remain unseen.
9.
For in his thought he visited
The spots in which, ere dead and damned,
He his wayward life had led; 415
Yet knew not whence the thoughts were fed
Which thus his fancy crammed.
10.
And these obscure remembrances
Stirred such harmony in Peter,
That, whensoever he should please, 420
He could speak of rocks and trees
In poetic metre.
11.
For though it was without a sense
Of memory, yet he remembered well
Many a ditch and quick-set fence; 425
Of lakes he had intelligence,
He knew something of heath and fell.
12.
He had also dim recollections
Of pedlars tramping on their rounds;
Milk-pans and pails; and odd collections 430
Of saws, and proverbs; and reflections
Old parsons make in burying-grounds.
13.
But Peter’s verse was clear, and came
Announcing from the frozen hearth
Of a cold age, that none might tame 435
The soul of that diviner flame
It augured to the Earth:
14.
Like gentle rains, on the dry plains,
Making that green which late was gray,
Or like the sudden moon, that stains 440
Some gloomy chamber’s window-panes
With a broad light like day.
15.
For language was in Peter’s hand
Like clay while he was yet a potter;
And he made songs for all the land, 445
Sweet both to feel and understand,
As pipkins late to mountain Cotter.
16.
And Mr. –, the bookseller,
Gave twenty pounds for some;–then scorning
A footman’s yellow coat to wear, 450
Peter, too proud of heart, I fear,
Instantly gave the Devil warning.
17.
Whereat the Devil took offence,
And swore in his soul a great oath then,
‘That for his damned impertinence 455
He’d bring him to a proper sense
Of what was due to gentlemen!’
PART 6.
DAMNATION.
1.
‘O that mine enemy had written
A book!’–cried Job:–a fearful curse,
If to the Arab, as the Briton, 460
‘Twas galling to be critic-bitten:–
The Devil to Peter wished no worse.
2.
When Peter’s next new book found vent,
The Devil to all the first Reviews
A copy of it slyly sent, 465
With five-pound note as compliment,
And this short notice–‘Pray abuse.’